Linda Fairstein fires back at lies in Netflix’s Central Park 5 series
Former prosecutor Linda Fairstein says Netflix’s Central Park 5 series is filled with ‘distortions’ and ‘falsehoods’ — kind of like her case
I was going to wait until I finished the Central Park 5 series on Netflix before expressing my concerns about prosecutorial misconduct and wrongful convictions, and the damage they do to families and society.
I had gotten as far as Part 4, when Korey Wise, who was prosecuted as an adult at age 16, gets attacked in prison for what seems like the 27th time for no other reason than he is there and isn’t supposed to be.
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I was going to wait.
Then I saw former sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein, who oversaw the team of prosecutors who won a wrongful conviction against the Harlem teens accused of raping a park jogger, complaining in the Wall Street Journal Tuesday about how a Hollywood director hurt her feelings.
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I couldn’t wait anymore.
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Fairstein, in an op-ed piece, claims Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series, “When They See Us,” is an “outright fabrication” that is “full of distortions and falsehoods.”
Even if that were true, and the highly-respected, award-winning DuVernay just made everything up, it wouldn’t be the first time that the words “fabrication,” “distortions” and “falsehoods” were associated with the Central Park case.
The so-called Central Park 5 -- (l. to r.) Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, director Ava DuVernay, Antron McCray and Yusef Salaam -- attend the world premiere of Netflix's "When They See Us" at the Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City.
The so-called Central Park 5 -- (l. to r.) Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, director Ava DuVernay, Antron McCray and Yusef Salaam -- attend the world premiere of Netflix's "When They See Us" at the Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City. (Monica Schipper / Getty Images)
The last time that happened, five teenagers — Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Wise — went to jail for a crime that even Fairstein now admits they did not commit.
Fairstein takes issue with the way she and the suspects were portrayed in the film. She disputes that they were held without food and kept away from their parents as part of an effort to coerce their confessions.
Fairstein also disputes that Salaam and Wise were arrested on the street, as depicted in the series. She said detectives went to Salaam’s apartment after he was named by other rioters.
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“Ms. DuVernay’s film attempts to portray me as an overzealous prosecutor and a bigot, the police as incompetent or worse, and the five suspects as innocent of all charges against them,” Fairstein wrote. “None of this is true.”
While the “evidence” in the case has been in dispute now for 30 years, there are some facts about which all sides are in agreement.
Serial rapist Matias Reyes, in jail on another charge, admitted in 2002 that he raped the jogger in 1989. His DNA matched that of the attacker.
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“Mr. Reyes’s confession, DNA match and claim that he acted alone required that the rape charges against the five be vacated,” Fairstein said in her op-ed. “I agreed with that decision, and still do.
"But the other charges, for crimes against other victims, should not have been vacated. Nothing Mr. Reyes
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Former prosecutor Linda Fairstein says Netflix’s Central Park 5 series is filled with ‘distortions’ and ‘falsehoods’ — kind of like her case
I was going to wait until I finished the Central Park 5 series on Netflix before expressing my concerns about prosecutorial misconduct and wrongful convictions, and the damage they do to families and society.
I had gotten as far as Part 4, when Korey Wise, who was prosecuted as an adult at age 16, gets attacked in prison for what seems like the 27th time for no other reason than he is there and isn’t supposed to be.
inRead invented by Teads
ADVERTISEMENT
I was going to wait.
Then I saw former sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein, who oversaw the team of prosecutors who won a wrongful conviction against the Harlem teens accused of raping a park jogger, complaining in the Wall Street Journal Tuesday about how a Hollywood director hurt her feelings.
PAID POSTWhat Is This?
Here’s Where Adults With ADHD Can Find Support And Resources.
Here’s Where Adults With ADHD Can Find Support And Resources.
There’s help. Check out these resources for adults managing life with ADHD.
SEE MORE Sponsored Content by ADHDandAdults. Talk to your Doctor.
I couldn’t wait anymore.
[More Opinion] The Bill comes due: One year later, seniors have had it with de Blasio for breaking a promise on housing; we echo their anger »
Fairstein, in an op-ed piece, claims Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series, “When They See Us,” is an “outright fabrication” that is “full of distortions and falsehoods.”
Even if that were true, and the highly-respected, award-winning DuVernay just made everything up, it wouldn’t be the first time that the words “fabrication,” “distortions” and “falsehoods” were associated with the Central Park case.
The so-called Central Park 5 — (l. to r.) Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, director Ava DuVernay, Antron McCray and Yusef Salaam — attend the world premiere of Netflix’s “When They See Us” at the Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City.
The so-called Central Park 5 — (l. to r.) Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, director Ava DuVernay, Antron McCray and Yusef Salaam — attend the world premiere of Netflix’s “When They See Us” at the Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City. (Monica Schipper / Getty Images)
The last time that happened, five teenagers — Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Wise — went to jail for a crime that even Fairstein now admits they did not commit.
Fairstein takes issue with the way she and the suspects were portrayed in the film. She disputes that they were held without food and kept away from their parents as part of an effort to coerce their confessions.
Fairstein also disputes that Salaam and Wise were arrested on the street, as depicted in the series. She said detectives went to Salaam’s apartment after he was named by other rioters.
inRead invented by Teads
ADVERTISEMENT
[More Opinion] The Kentucky carveout: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s takes for ‘granted’ a conflict of interest with her Senate majority leader husband »
“Ms. DuVernay’s film attempts to portray me as an overzealous prosecutor and a bigot, the police as incompetent or worse, and the five suspects as innocent of all charges against them,” Fairstein wrote. “None of this is true.”
While the “evidence” in the case has been in dispute now for 30 years, there are some facts about which all sides are in agreement.
Serial rapist Matias Reyes, in jail on another charge, admitted in 2002 that he raped the jogger in 1989. His DNA matched that of the attacker.
[More Opinion] Readers sound off on gun violence awareness, the Bronx Book Festival and jury duty »
“Mr. Reyes’s confession, DNA match and claim that he acted alone required that the rape charges against the five be vacated,” Fairstein said in her op-ed. “I agreed with that decision, and still do.
“But the other charges, for crimes against other victims, should not have been vacated. Nothing Mr. Reyes
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